19-year-old would-be suicide attacker nabbed

LASHKARGAH (PAN): A nineteen-year-old would-be suicide attacker, along with four of his handlers, were arrested by the National Directorate of Security (NDS) in Lashkargah city, the provincial capital of southern Helmand province, an official said today.

Governor Muhammad Gulab Mangal told Pajhwok Afghan News that three of those arrested facilitators sheltered the young suspect in their house in Sapyan area in the city and all were arrested in NDS operation on Saturday night.

The suspect identified as Syed Ahmad, a resident of Heart province, was trained in Quetta city of Pakistan, added the governor.

“Target of the bomber was provincial head of NDS,” said Mangal, adding one of the facilitators, named Nimatullah alias Aka, was also arrested on similar charge in past but later released by the court.

Ahmad revealed that he was instigated by a Pakistani prayer leader to launch suicide attack, promising him such act would eventually take him to paradise.

He was introduced to two persons, named Aka and Mullanan, and had spent a night at a place to target NDS director but did not succeed.